1. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

2. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA 25 APRIL 2005 BULGARIA – SIGNED ACCESSION TREATY

3. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA Current situation - problems Country with traditionally strong centralization; Limited access of municipalities to current information and funding; Further capacity building at local level needed ;

4. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA Challenges Adequate preparation of local authorities for EU accession; Implementation of real decentralization; More active role in legislation process;

5. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) WHY IT IS NEEDED?

6. MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) Bulgaria – beneficiary of vast amounts of resources; Municipalities to play a key role in the absorption of these funds; Needed transparency in engagements undertaken by state – consequences for LA.

7. MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) GOAL SUCCESSFUL PREPARATION OF BULGRIAN LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR EU MEMBERHIP WITH THEIR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROCESS

8. MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) OBJECTIVES Harmonization of municipal norms and regulations with EU requirements; Provision of cervices to citizens complying with EU standards; Capacity strengthening of at local level; Transparency and accountancy of LA.

9. MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) POLICY TO BE IMPLEMENTED AT TWO LEVELS: National level International level - EU

10. MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) NATIONAL LEVEL Granted powers under over 11 Laws; Representatives of NAMRB in over 40 intergovernmental OP Working Groups, Monitoring Committees (ISPA, SAPPARD), etc. Annual agreement signed with the MF on State Budget; Municipal lobby in Parliament;

11. MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) INTERNATIONAL LEVEL Cooperation with EU institutions – CoR, Commission; Interaction with LA from EU member states – exchange of best practices and experiences; Initiation support to Bulgarian LA among EU member-states;

12. MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) FIRST STAGE – Institutional strengthening (July 2004 – July 2005 ); SECOND STAGE – Implementation of municipal tasks during the last stage of accession (July 2005 – July 2007); THURD STAGE – Successful functioning of Bulgarian municipalities in EU (After accession) THREE STAGES OF IMPLEMENTATION:

13. MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) Establishment of Council of EU integration; Functioning of municipal experts’ network ; Capacity building, provision of information and technology. FIRST STAGE - accomplished

14. MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) NAMRB OFFICE IN BRUSSELS JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE CLRAE AT THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE EU LEVEL NAMRB STANDING COMMITTEES MUNICIPAL EXPERTS’ NETWORK ON EU INTEGRATION SECRETARIAT OF EU INTEGRATION AT NAMRB NAMRB BOARD OF DIRECTORS COUNCIL ON EU INTEGRATION GENERAL ASSEMBLY NATIONAL LEVEL

15. MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) Harmonization of municipal norms and regulations with EU requirements; Successful absorption of pre-accession, the Structural and Cohesion Funds of the EU; Investments and other measures for meeting EU standards. SECOND STAGE:

16. MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) Bulgarian municipalities – equal and competitive partners of EU local authorities THIRD STAGE:

17. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA MEET YOU IN EU - 2007!